Current News

Vermont Business Magazine At School for International Training’s 59th commencement Saturday, 32 graduates received their master’s degrees during a ceremony that urged them to trust in the lessons they had learned to help them navigate challenges and “serve for the common good.” The ceremony took place on the front lawn of SIT’s Brattleboro campus, where staff and faculty members from around the world gathered with more than 100 guests to celebrate students who completed their master’s degrees in climate change, international relations, humanitarian assistance, international education, sustainable development, and intercultural service and leadership.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Captive Insurance Association, the largest captive membership association in the world, begins its 40th Anniversary Conference today at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Burlington. VCIA’s milestone event will host insurance professionals from 45 US states and 8 countries and features over 300 first timers and 350+ captive owners. 

Vermont Business Magazine Two new studies led by Vermont State University (VTSU) faculty and students reveal that ice climbing in New Hampshire’s Mount Washington Valley contributes more than $6.2 million annually to the regional economy, supporting 36 jobs and generating $4.4 million in Gross Domestic Product (GDP). 

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $3.08/g, down 1.2 cents per gallon from last week's $3.09/g. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $2.65/g while the highest was $3.25/g, a difference of 60.0 cents per gallon. The national average price of gasoline has fallen 2.7 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.08/g today. 

by Maeve Fairfax, Community News Service Vermont’s dirt roads span 8,534 miles — more than the straight-line distance between Burlington and San Francisco three times over. They contribute to the state’s rustic charm, bring tourists looking for gravel biking and are beloved by rural residents. They are also particularly vulnerable to floods. Runoff from any type of road can harm water quality, but Vermont has some 1,300 more miles of dirt than pavement — and those dirt roads are subject to easy erosion.  With the state’s increase in flooding, those old roads are hitting waterways and their ecosystems hard. 

Vermont Business Magazine Bristow Norway AS, a subsidiary of Bristow Group Inc., today flew BETA Technologies' all-electric ALIA CX300 aircraft at Stavanger Airport, marking the first operations of Norway's Test Arena for Zero & Low Emission Aviation. The flights, which are being conducted in cooperation with Avinor and the Civil Aviation Authority of Norway (CAA Norway), mark a step toward integrating and scaling Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) in Norway and the surrounding regions. The Test Arena will consist of a series of evaluation flights over the next several months, to test likely customer routes at Avinor-owned airports throughout Norway. Early routes will see ALIA fly between Stavanger and Bergen airports, with potential for the program to expand to additional routes across Norway later this year. The aircraft will be flown by BETA-trained Bristow pilots.

Vermont Business Magazine This weekly report is a list of planned construction activities that will affect traffic on state highways and interstates throughout Vermont for the week of August 11, 2025. A full closure of I-91 South at Exit 16 in Fairlee is in effect. All southbound traffic will need to exit the interstate at Exit 16 and detour on U.S. 5 to Exit 15 in Fairlee. Temporary signals are in place along the detour route at the intersection of U.S. 5 and Bridge Street. Delays may occur. Rolling roadblocks on the northbound side of the interstate will be in effect throughout the week. Expect delays. 

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and members of his cabinet will be in Windham County on Tuesday, August 12 for its Capital for a Day 14-county tour. Governor Scott first launched this initiative in June 2018, and he and his cabinet visited all 14 counties over the following 10 months. Capital for a Day gives local constituents, municipal government leaders and other partners the opportunity to connect directly with state leadership and staff.

by Mike Pieciak and Sue Minter Vermonters have learned a hard lesson from past disasters: being prepared makes a difference. The COVID-19 pandemic, Tropical Storm Irene, and devastating floods of recent summers have shown that when we plan ahead and protect our state—we keep Vermonters safe, businesses open, and costs down. Today, we must use this same approach as the Trump administration threatens the security of workers, families, and our communities. Vermonters are already feeling the impact of the MAGA agenda. Inflation is worsening, tariffs are driving up costs for businesses, ICE raids are tearing families apart, and important programs like Medicaid and food assistance are being slashed. The stock market may be riding high, but this bears little resemblance to the reality of most Vermonters. 

Vermont Business Magazine This fall, Bennington College’s Center for the Advancement of Public Action (CAPA) is proud to launch Train to Transform, a powerful new online training series designed to equip participants with real-world skills for civic leadership, conflict transformation, and global engagement. Registration opened August 4, 2025. Trainings begin the week of October 6, 2025. Five dynamic online courses are each led by an internationally recognized practitioner. The series is designed for mid-career professionals, educators, students, public servants, activists, and lifelong learners seeking to deepen their impact and contribute to systemic change. All trainings are delivered virtually via Bennington’s partner EnrichmentSolutions.us, which allows participants from around the globe to learn, connect, and apply their knowledge in real time.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Federal Credit Union (VFCU) is proud to announce it has been selected as one of the recipients of the 2025 MeridianLink Arc Award, recognizing its innovative use of the MeridianLink One platform to drive impact, efficiency, and strengthened member service across Vermont. Now in its third year, the MeridianLink Arc Award celebrates financial institutions that harness technology with purpose—transforming lending processes, optimizing operations, and creating meaningful outcomes for their communities. Vermont Federal joins a distinguished group of ten winners, including Bangor Savings Bank, Empower Federal Credit Union, and Greater Iowa Credit Union.

Vermont Business Magazine School for International Training (SIT) has announced that Dr. Sophia Howlett has decided to step down from her role as SIT president effective December 31, 2025. This will mark the end of her second term and nine years of service with SIT. The announcement was shared with the World Learning Board of Trustees earlier this summer. World Learning CEO Carol Jenkins will assume the role of acting SIT president while continuing to lead World Learning, an international nongovernmental organization. Jenkins has served as CEO since 2017, a role that oversees both World Learning and SIT.